As much as we might disagree with the court’s decision, it provides an unfortunate but nonetheless compelling argument for Congress to keep its nose out of ESA listing and delisting actions. Photo by Alamy

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to strip Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in Wyoming was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals on Friday, all but clearing the way for the state to allow an open season on the small population of wolves surviving in the state (only the wolves who stay inside park boundaries at Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the Wind River Indian Reservation would continue to be protected). It’s a surprising ruling given that Wyoming has continued to demonstrate it does not have the right conservation plan or the political will to resist a wholesale slaughter of wolves in the state.

This decision results from an appeal of a 2014 ruling that rejected Wyoming’s wolf management plan, finding that the state failed to provide enforceable commitments that would forestall the near extirpation of the state’s wolf population.

As much as we might disagree with the court’s decision, it provides an unfortunate but nonetheless compelling argument for Congress to keep its nose out of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing and delisting actions and to avoid short-circuiting administrative or judicial review of these actions. Congress is driven purely by political considerations, and ESA listing and delisting decisions are best left to professional agencies, through rulemaking actions that require input from expert scientists, other key stakeholders, and the general public, and with review by the federal courts. Congress should let these proceedings move ahead and not short-circuit them with heavy-handed delisting actions.

There are two bills in Congress, H.R. 424 and S. 164, dubbed the “War on Wolves Act,” that are written to have Congress subvert these processes. These bills would remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in Wyoming and the northern Great Lakes states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The courts are still reviewing the legality of the Fish and Wildlife Service decision to remove ESA protections from wolves in the Great Lakes states. There, in a case brought and led by The HSUS, a U.S. District Court judge previously ruled that the agency action was premature and wrong-headed, because it is looking too narrowly at wolf recovery within specific populations and not looking at the health of wolf populations more broadly.

Lawmakers, quick to cater to the vocal minority that wants to hunt and trap wolves, are ignoring the best available science, which reveals that these apex carnivores occupy just a fraction of their original range and number only 5,000 across the entire lower 48 states. That science also shows that random killing of wolves – by trophy hunters and trappers – may actually lead to conflicts between wolves and livestock by disrupting and dispersing stable packs. The livestock loss is an amplified myth. A March 1, 2017 analysis by The HSUS showed that in Wyoming, wolves killed 0.11 percent of Wyoming’s entire cattle inventory and 0.02 percent of its entire sheep inventory. Far more livestock die from illness, birthing problems, and random weather events.

The sponsors of the War on Wolves Act included an insidious provision that would eliminate judicial review, and allow Congress to delist the species on a whim. It’s a power grab, pure and simple, one that will threaten wolves in ways that the broader public doesn’t support.

A study last year showed that most Americans hold positive or even “very positive” associations with wolves. A 2014 statewide survey of nearly 9,000 Wisconsin residents showed most residents believe that wolves are important members of the ecological community who keep deer in balance and should be enjoyed by future generations. And in November 2014, Michigan voters rejected two legislative proposals to authorize trophy hunting and trapping of wolves, drubbing both measures at the ballot box.

The court’s ruling on Wyoming is a devastating blow to wolves. We disagree with the reasoning but we accept it. Congress should also accept the rulings, whether the decisions are aligned with their wishes or not. It’s wrong for lawmakers to subvert both the professional agency and the federal courts.

What right do you have to kill our wolves and it must be stopped. I thought your department was to help our wildlife and not continue to destroy them.
You should be closed down for this horrible inhumane destruction that never seems to end. Everything on earth deserves to live and roam in peace as God intended. Your agency is a disgrace and cowards with big guns.

There are so many effective ways of curbing population growth and keeping wildlife within protected zones, America could learn from Africa in this regard. It does have to be said however that a great number of Americans appear to have no regard or respect for wildlife.

President Trump,
I know you have alot on your table, be the man I met at Elmira-Corning regional airport and pass a law to protect our wolves! Seems like if it does not put money in our Congress’s pockets they don’t care, as a supporter please help us in the fight to save these great beautiful animals. Are wolves are a significant part of our wilderness that we are losing! Please sir, help us!

Ask this question – what happens when animals are annihilated throughout the world, as our species is determined to try to bring about? Who will be the target then – other humans, if thats all thats left?Something radically wrong with the human psyche to want to kill any living creature. Psychologically, mental issues are behind animal and any killers. Actually they hate themselves so much ergo destroying an animal or person suffices because they fear confronting themselves on the many issues tormenting them. However spin you put on it, an animal or person should not die at the hands of a human just because we have weaponry to kill.

The Humane Society of the United States is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to The Humane Society of the United States are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The HSUS's tax identification number is 53-0225390.